This tree, loaded with books and toys, is one of the 140 trees and wreaths on display at the Tioga County Historical Society Museum on Front Street in Owego, New York during the O’Tannenbaum fundraising celebration, which is taking place until Dec. 13 when the bidding concludes. (Photos by Kathy Nichols)
The season is upon us and the festive activity level this past week at the Tioga County Historical Society Museum on Front Street in Owego, New York proves just that!
Members of the O’Tannenbaum Fundraiser committee orchestrated the miracle of turning the museum into a Holiday showcase. From the Museum Director, Kevin Lentz, to the participants of the Tioga Works program, everyone was busy twisting, turning, decorating, cleaning, hanging, posting, talking, and laughing as they readied the museum for over 140 beautifully adorned trees and wreaths for the Saturday, Nov. 8 opening of this year’s O’Tannenbaum at 10 a.m.
This year’s theme is “A Country Christmas”. For the 12th year, all of the trees, wreaths and holiday items are wonderfully and creatively decorated by local individuals, businesses, nonprofits, churches and groups, in hopes the community will come visit the showcase during the O’Tannenbaum event, which runs from Nov. 8 through Dec. 13 during museum hours.
At the event, guests can bid on items, resulting in a very successful fundraiser for the society. The excitement during the event is heightened by the chance that your generous bid just might be a winner as the event ends. You could be toting home an adorned tree or wreath, or a holiday centerpiece all ready to brighten up that perfect spot in your home.
This tree, loaded with cards for all seasons, is one of the 140 trees and wreaths on display at the Tioga County Historical Society Museum on Front Street in Owego, New York during the O’Tannenbaum fundraising celebration, which is taking place until Dec. 13 when the bidding concludes.
Joan Hunt, chair of this event, spoke appreciatively about her helpers. Helping her this year are Eleanor Hurd, Kathy Taylor, Mary Ellen Kishpaugh, Jean Fisher, Bob Zebrackie, Sally Scordino, Nancy Ellis, Linda Williams, Sue Whiting, Jane Bower and Georgia Westgate. If she forgot anybody, she says she will hate herself, but how can you hate a women sitting on the floor making ornament hangers for little toys that will soon be placed on a 6-foot evergreen tree already covered with items to light up a child’s eyes.
If you have never gone before, be sure to look around carefully for trees that just might spark your interest. There were many decorated trees with special meaning that maybe an ordinary person might not be aware of.
Every year the Ford family decorates a tree in memory of their daughter. This has always been one of the committee’s favorite trees.
A group of friends make hand-painted Ukrainian eggs with wax and dyes. In a store setting, these eggs can be sold from $30 to $50 dollars. The tree they decorated this year has 36 eggs on it. Each egg is unique and beautifully placed. There is a very large, quite likely the largest of the evergreens this year, covered with literacy! The family Reading program has covered a tree from top to bottom with children’s books.
As a past preschool teacher, this writer was really drawn to this tree. Some family is going to be very happy! Or, just as a thought, what a gift it would be to win this tree and donate it to your child’s daycare, classroom or church group.
This tree, loaded with sporting items, is one of the 140 trees and wreaths on display at the Tioga County Historical Society Museum on Front Street in Owego, New York during the O’Tannenbaum fundraising celebration, which is taking place until Dec. 13 when the bidding concludes.
What a great event to spend time together as a family. Besides the holiday showcased items, the museum has several displays open and prepared to continue the theme of “A Country Christmas”.
Tom and Sally McEnteer have a large antique toy collection on display. The museum is gearing up for their 100th year and this display is perfectly timed for highlighting a child’s wonderland from back in those years.
There is an old country schoolroom display, a Monarch Motorcycle that was made in Owego back in the early 1900’s, and, as a personal favorite to this writer, the Native American artifacts.
It had been rumored that many of these artifacts were lost or ruined in the flood of 2011. Looking at the arrowheads made this writer think of numerous days spent in that basement with Lenor and Lisa Gillette, carefully inspecting each item.
To learn more about the O’Tannenbaum event or the museum, visit www.tiogahistory.org, or contact them by calling (607) 687-2460.
This wreath, in Mardi Gras fashion, is among the 140 trees and wreaths on display at the Tioga County Historical Society Museum on Front Street in Owego, New York during the O’Tannenbaum fundraising celebration, which is taking place until Dec. 13 when the bidding concludes.
